Editorial -08/09/2026
Natural Partners: On India–Belgium Ties
India and Belgium have long described themselves as “natural partners”, a phrase rooted in shared democratic values, complementary economies, and deep people-to-people links. The September 2026 visit of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever to New Delhi—his first since taking office—gave this relationship a fresh strategic shape: an inaugural Strategic Dialogue, a target to double bilateral trade in five years, and new pacts in defence, renewable energy, semiconductors, and security.
Historical Foundations and Political Convergence
The India–Belgium relationship is older than many realise. Belgium was among the first European countries to establish diplomatic relations with independent India in 1947, and the memory of over 9,000 Indian soldiers who died in Flanders Fields during the First World War remains a powerful emotional anchor. This historical bond has been reinforced by steady political convergence: both are pluralistic democracies, market economies, and strong supporters of a rules-based international order.
The institutional architecture has matured quickly in 2026. The first India–Belgium Strategic Dialogue was held in Brussels in July 2026, co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot, creating a regular, comprehensive framework for political engagement anchored in the broader India–EU Strategic Partnership. Both sides have also reaffirmed support for UN Security Council reform, with Belgium backing India’s permanent membership and the two countries agreeing to support each other’s non-permanent membership bids (India for 2028–29; Belgium for 2037–38).
Trade and Investment: From Diamonds to Diversification
Economically, Belgium has been an important European partner, but the relationship has been narrowly concentrated. Bilateral goods trade peaked at around USD 20 billion in FY2022, contracted to about USD 12.9–13 billion by FY2025–26, with diamonds, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and engineering goods dominating the basket. India’s exports fell from USD 10.1 billion (FY2022) to USD 6.3 billion (FY2025) before a modest recovery to USD 6.6 billion in FY2026, highlighting vulnerability to commodity cycles and demand shocks.
The September 2026 summit sought to reverse this trend through diversification and institutional support:
Historical Foundations and Political Convergence
The India–Belgium relationship is older than many realise. Belgium was among the first European countries to establish diplomatic relations with independent India in 1947, and the memory of over 9,000 Indian soldiers who died in Flanders Fields during the First World War remains a powerful emotional anchor. This historical bond has been reinforced by steady political convergence: both are pluralistic democracies, market economies, and strong supporters of a rules-based international order.
The institutional architecture has matured quickly in 2026. The first India–Belgium Strategic Dialogue was held in Brussels in July 2026, co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot, creating a regular, comprehensive framework for political engagement anchored in the broader India–EU Strategic Partnership. Both sides have also reaffirmed support for UN Security Council reform, with Belgium backing India’s permanent membership and the two countries agreeing to support each other’s non-permanent membership bids (India for 2028–29; Belgium for 2037–38).
Trade and Investment: From Diamonds to Diversification
Economically, Belgium has been an important European partner, but the relationship has been narrowly concentrated. Bilateral goods trade peaked at around USD 20 billion in FY2022, contracted to about USD 12.9–13 billion by FY2025–26, with diamonds, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and engineering goods dominating the basket. India’s exports fell from USD 10.1 billion (FY2022) to USD 6.3 billion (FY2025) before a modest recovery to USD 6.6 billion in FY2026, highlighting vulnerability to commodity cycles and demand shocks.
The September 2026 summit sought to reverse this trend through diversification and institutional support:
- Target: Double bilateral trade over the next five years from the current ~USD 13 billion base.
- Investment Fast-Track Mechanism: A dedicated mechanism to facilitate Belgian investment in India (and vice versa), resolve bottlenecks, and improve the ease of doing business.
- India–Belgium Business Forum: Institutionalised as a regular platform to bring together public and private stakeholders.
- India–EU FTA tailwind: With negotiations on the India–EU Free Trade Agreement concluded in January 2026, both sides see a historic opportunity to expand market access, diversify value chains, and deepen economic integration.
Sectoral priorities now go well beyond diamonds to include semiconductors, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, defence industrial collaboration, critical minerals refining and recycling, sustainable industries, and even nuclear energy. Belgium’s Federal Holding and Investment Company (SFPIM) and India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) are also moving to formalise cooperation, aiming to create an Indo-Belgian economic and investment corridor.
Defence and Security: A New Strategic Pillar
Defence and security have emerged as the most visible new pillar of the relationship. For years, India–Belgium defence ties were modest; now they are being deliberately scaled up:
Defence and Security: A New Strategic Pillar
Defence and security have emerged as the most visible new pillar of the relationship. For years, India–Belgium defence ties were modest; now they are being deliberately scaled up:
- Letter of Intent on Defence: Provides a framework for regular military exchanges, staff talks, education and training, research cooperation, and defence-industrial partnerships.
- Co-development and co-production: Both sides are encouraging joint projects in manufacturing, technology, and innovation, including collaboration on advanced platforms such as the Zorawar light tank.
- Maritime and Indo-Pacific: Belgium’s frigate LEOPOLD I is scheduled to visit India in November 2026, and the Belgian Defence College will conduct its World Study Trip 2027 in India, signalling deeper engagement on maritime security and Indo-Pacific issues.
- Diplomatic presence: Belgium has appointed a Defence Attaché in New Delhi; India plans to appoint a resident Defence Attaché in Brussels.
On security, the two countries signed an MoU between investigative and law-enforcement agencies to enhance cooperation against transnational organised crime and cybercrime, including information sharing, capacity building, and tracing fugitives. They also agreed to explore a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, with Belgium reiterating solidarity with India against cross-border terrorism and condemning the April 2025 Pahalgam attack.
Technology, Semiconductors, and Innovation
Belgium’s global strength in micro-electronics and India’s scale and digital ecosystem create a natural fit in critical technologies:
Technology, Semiconductors, and Innovation
Belgium’s global strength in micro-electronics and India’s scale and digital ecosystem create a natural fit in critical technologies:
- Semiconductors: The two sides agreed to connect Belgium’s IMEC (Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre) with India’s semiconductor ecosystem, supporting cooperation in R&D, skills, and potentially supply-chain linkages.
- AI and startups: Cooperation is being expanded in artificial intelligence, startups, incubation, entrepreneurship, and digital-skills development, with encouragement for deeper engagement between Indian and Belgian startup hubs.
- Trade and Technology Council: Progress under the India–EU Trade and Technology Council provides an additional channel to align standards, promote trusted tech supply chains, and facilitate regulatory cooperation.
This technology dimension is crucial for India’s strategic autonomy and for Belgium’s desire to de-risk supply chains while accessing India’s talent and market.
Energy Transition and Critical Minerals
Energy and climate cooperation has moved from general dialogue to concrete projects:
Energy Transition and Critical Minerals
Energy and climate cooperation has moved from general dialogue to concrete projects:
- Renewable Energy MoU: A renewed memorandum of understanding expands collaboration in green hydrogen, solar, energy storage, offshore wind, bio-energy, small hydropower, and pumped-storage projects.
- Green ammonia: In Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India and Belgian partners are developing one of the world’s largest green ammonia projects, exemplifying how Belgian technology and Indian scale can deliver at gigawatt scale.
- Critical minerals: Both countries agreed to enhance cooperation in processing and recycling of critical minerals, an area vital for batteries, electronics, and defence applications.
Given Belgium’s expertise in dredging and port infrastructure, there is also potential for collaboration in offshore wind foundations, port development, and logistics—areas where Indian ambitions (Sagarmala, offshore wind targets) meet Belgian know-how.
People-to-People Ties: Diamonds, Diaspora, and Mobility
People-to-people connections remain the bedrock of the relationship:
People-to-People Ties: Diamonds, Diaspora, and Mobility
People-to-people connections remain the bedrock of the relationship:
- Diamond trade: The Antwerp–Mumbai/Surat diamond corridor is iconic, linking Indian cutting and polishing capacity with Belgian trading and grading ecosystems.
- Diaspora and local politics: Prime Minister De Wever’s long tenure as Mayor of Antwerp included active engagement with the large Indian community there, reinforcing local-level bonds that feed into national ties.
- Visas and mobility: With travel and exchanges expected to grow, both sides agreed to improve visa-processing capacity, reinforce Belgian visa delivery services in India, and facilitate mobility for skilled professionals, students, researchers, and business travellers.
- Education: India has invited leading Belgian universities to establish campuses in India under the National Education Policy, while both sides plan to strengthen university and research cooperation.
- Migration and Mobility Partnership: A “Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement” is slated to be concluded soon, providing a structured framework for legal migration, student mobility, and circular migration.
These human links make the relationship resilient and adaptable, even when macroeconomic headwinds affect trade volumes.
Global and Regional Convergence
On global issues, India and Belgium share broad strategic preferences:
Global and Regional Convergence
On global issues, India and Belgium share broad strategic preferences:
- Multilateralism and UNSC reform: Both advocate a more representative UN system and support each other’s Security Council candidatures.
- Conflict resolution: On Ukraine and West Asia, they emphasise dialogue, diplomacy, protection of maritime routes, and safe, unhindered shipping.
- Counter-terrorism: They call for a comprehensive international approach against terrorism and terrorist financing, aligning with India’s long-standing push for a global consensus on terror definitions and mechanisms.
Within the EU context, Belgium’s role as host of EU and NATO institutions gives it outsized influence in shaping European attitudes towards India. A stronger India–Belgium track thus indirectly strengthens the India–EU partnership as well.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite the optimism, challenges remain:
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite the optimism, challenges remain:
- Trade contraction and concentration: The drop from USD 20 billion to around USD 13 billion in goods trade, and heavy reliance on diamonds and a few sectors, underscore the need for genuine diversification.
- Implementation gap: Mechanisms like the Investment Fast-Track, Strategic Dialogue, and counter-terrorism working group will matter only if they deliver visible outcomes—projects cleared, investments closed, joint exercises held, and tech collaborations launched.
- Connectivity: The absence of direct air links between India and Belgium is a soft but real constraint on business travel, tourism, and academic exchanges; both sides have encouraged airlines to explore direct connectivity.
- EU-level dynamics: While the India–EU FTA is a tailwind, its final shape, ratification timelines, and interaction with member-state sensitivities (on labour, environment, GI, investment protection) will influence how quickly trade and investment accelerate.
The roadmap is clear: use the Strategic Dialogue and Business Forum to prioritise sectors where complementarities are strongest (semiconductors, green tech, defence, critical minerals), ensure the fast-track mechanism actually speeds up approvals, and leverage the India–EU FTA to lock in market access and regulatory convergence.
Conclusion: Why “Natural Partners” Matters Now
Calling India and Belgium “natural partners” is not mere diplomatic flourish; it captures a convergence of values, interests, and capabilities at a time of geopolitical flux. With a structured Strategic Dialogue, ambitious trade targets, and new pillars in defence, technology, and energy, the relationship is moving from a traditional, diamond-centric tie to a broader, future-oriented partnership. If implementation matches rhetoric, India–Belgium ties can become a model of how India engages mid-sized but highly influential European states—combining strategic depth with economic opportunity in an increasingly fragmented world.
Download Pdf
Conclusion: Why “Natural Partners” Matters Now
Calling India and Belgium “natural partners” is not mere diplomatic flourish; it captures a convergence of values, interests, and capabilities at a time of geopolitical flux. With a structured Strategic Dialogue, ambitious trade targets, and new pillars in defence, technology, and energy, the relationship is moving from a traditional, diamond-centric tie to a broader, future-oriented partnership. If implementation matches rhetoric, India–Belgium ties can become a model of how India engages mid-sized but highly influential European states—combining strategic depth with economic opportunity in an increasingly fragmented world.
